Adjustable and reversible ladder foot



June 22 1926.

' H. L. CLARY ADJUSTABLE 1mm REVERSIBLE LADDER FOOT Filed Jan. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SE02 I: Iary Huherl L..

June 22 1926 H. L. CLARY ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSIBLE LADDER FOOT Filed Jan. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1" OFFICE.

HUBERT L. CLARY, OF VIELDON, NORTH CAROLINA.

ADJUSTABLE AND REVERSEBLE LADDER FOOT.

Application filed January 18, 1922. Serial No. 530,192.

This invention relates to ladders, and the primary object of the present invention is the provision of means, for connection with ladders of the ordinary character, for'permitting effective use of ladders on different kinds of polished surfaces, that is, surfaces, such as floors, steps and the like, and surfaces of a relatively soft nature, such as the ground, such means acting to prevent the slipping of the ladder when in use on different kinds of surfaces, and the marring of floors and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provison of a novel foot for ladders having independent surface engaging members formed on the opposite ends thereof, said members having different characteristics for engaging surfaces of different kinds, whereby the ladder can be effectively used for all purposes and under all conditions. 7

Other objects of the invention are first, the provision of a ladder foot of novel form embodying a member on one end thereof for engaging a polished surface and a member on the opposite end thereof for engaging a soft surface, or a surface in which the marring thereof is inconsequential; second, to form a novel means for connecting the foot to the ladder whereby the same can be readily reversed to permit the different members formed thereon to be brought into an active position and topermit the foot to be readily and quickly secured to or removed from the ladder with which it is associated; and third, to provide a novel means associated with the foot for bracing or stn'engthening the ladder stringers or legs, with which the foot is connected.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reversible foot for each stringer or leg of a ladder, having novel means for permitting the feet to be adjusted in relation to each other, whereby the ladder can be conveniently used on uneven surfaces, such as steps, roofs having inclined surfaces, and the like. V

A still-further object of the invention i to provide reversible and adjustable feet for ladders of the 'abovechara'cter, which will be durable and'efficient in use, simple and easy tomanufacture, and which canbe placed upon the market-and incorporated with ordinary ladders at a minimum cost. 'lVith these and other objects in'view, the

invention consists in f the novel" construction, arrangementand formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step ladder equipped with the improved reversible and adjustable feet, showing the use of the ladder on a stair case, the padded or polished surface engaging ends being disposed lowermost, the feet on the legs of the step portion of the ladder being adapted to engage a stepin a plane below the step which is engaged by the feet carried. by le s of the prop section of the ladder.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a step ladder equipped with the improved reversible and adjustable feet, showing the ladder in use on a pitched roof, the feet having their pointed ends disposed lowermost, the feet carried by one leg of the prop section and one leg of the step section being disposed below the feet of the other portions of the ladder, whereby the top platform and the steps of the ladder can be held in a horizontal plane.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the improved feet, showing the same in an adjusted position in relation to the leg or stringer of a ladder.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the improved feet showing the padded end thereof for engaging a polished surface, the foot being shown attached to the leg or stringer of a ladder.

Figure 5 is a detail transverse section through one of the improved feet and the leg or stringer of the ladder, taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one er the locking blocks, utilized for holding the feet in their adjusted positions. v

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view through one end of one of the feet, illustrating the means of connecting the pad thereto for engaging a polishedsurface.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates a preferred form of the improved reversible and adjustable ladder foot, whichincludes a body 5 preferably formed of metal. This body 5 can :be cast or formed in, any other desired way and is adapted to be adjustably associated with the leg or stringer of a ladder as will be hereinafter more fully described. Theopposite ends of the foot 5 are pro vided with surface engaging elements 6 and T of different cl'iaracters, which permits the effective use of a ladder equipped with the foot for a variety of different purposes.

The surface engaging element 6 is adapted to be used on plane surfaces having a polished face, such as floors, steps or the like, in which the marring thereof would be detriinental thereto. This surface engaging element 6 includes a laterally projecting member of ear 8, which forms a relatively large bearing face. A pad 9 preferably formed of rubber is secured to the outer end of the lug or member 8, and this pad 9 is adapted to engage the surface on which the ladder is placed, and serves the dual function of pre venting the marrin-g of the surface, and preventing the slipping of the ladder. In order to enhance the gripping qualities of the rubber pad 9, the outer or active face thereof may be corrugated or roughened as at 10, and this corrugated or roughened surface will form an elf ctive means for engaginga floor or other polished surface. The outer face of the lug or element 8 may be recessed as at 11. for the reception of the pad 9, and the pad may be held in the recessed portion by suitable fastening elements 12, which can be countersunk in the pad 9, as at 13.

The surface engaging element 7, which is disposed on the oppos'te end of the body '3 from the surface engaging element 6 is provided with a. pointed terminal 14;, for digging or biting into the surface on which the ladder may be placed. This surface engaging element 7 is specifically adapted to be used when the ladder is placed on the ground or some other surface where the marring thereof is inconsequential. The outer lou itudinz-il face of the body 5 is provided with a longitudinally extending recessed portion 15-, which may extend from the surface engaging element 6 to the surface enaging element 7. The bocy 5, at the lonudinal center of the recessed portion 15, is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 16', and this slot extends the entirelength of the recessed portion 15. The inner face of the recessed portion 15 on opposite sides of the slot 16 i provided w1th a corrugated or toothed face 17, the purpose of which will hereinafter more. fully appear.

ll. reinforcing metal plate 18' is adapted-to secured tethe inner surface of each leg of a ladder, with which t'he improved feet are associated. and the reinforcing plate can he held in position by means of a suitable plate 18 as at 21. These bolts 20 are adapted to extend through the leg of the ladder with which the plate associated, and are of such a length as to extend tl'lrough the slot 15 formed in the body and outwardly of the outer face of the body. The ends of the bolts 20 which protrude through and beyond the body 5, are threaded as at 22 for the reception of nuts 23, which may be provided with handles 24: to facilitate the turning thereof. Each one of the bolts 20 also receives a locking block which is also preferably formed of metal. Each of the blocks 2:) i-cludes a plate 26, having a centrally disposed transversely extending wedge shaped extension 27', which is adapted to slidably fit within the slot 16, the side walls of which are inclined inwardly. Each block is of such a width as to fit or extend across the recessed portion 15, and the inner face of each block on opposite sides of the wedge shaped extension 27 is provided with teeth o corrugations 28 for engaging the corrutions or teeth 17 of the recessed portion 15 of the body Each block is provided with a bore or opening 29, for the reception of the bolt 20, and it is obvious that by tightening the nuts the blocks 25 can be forced into intimate locking contact with the body 5 and hold the same in an adjusted position on the leg of a ladder. ll hile two bolts 20 and two locking blocks 25 have been shown, it is to be u; .lerstood that more or less bolts and locking blocks can be utilized without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In Figu es 1 and 2' is illustrated the use of the imp ovcd feet A, with a step ladder, which is designated by the reference character D.

The step ladder D can be of the usual or any preferred character, and as shown inelu' s e-p porton and the prop sec- H the s 7 tion 36. The legs or stringers 3'? of the step portion and the legs or standards 38 of the prop section 36 have each associated therewith one of the improved feet A and these feet A arecon-nected tothe legs 3'7 and 38 in the same manner as hereinbcfore described.

In Figure 1. the step ladder 35- is shown as used on a stair case. E and the legs or standards 38 of the prop section 3.6 engage a step 39 disposed in a. plane above the step 40. on which the legs or stringers 317 of the step section 35 are disposed. The feet A carried by the legs 37 of the step section are iusted so that the lower ends thereof will entend in a plane. below the lower ends ofthe feet A carried by the legs or string ers 38 of the prop. section 36: and thus perniit' the steps'oi." the rungs of the stepv section 35 to be disposed in a horizontal: plane. The bodies 5 of? all of the feet A have the surface-engaging elements 6 disposed loweryon assay/4e most so that the feet will not mar the surface of the steps on which the ladder is being used. 7

In Figure 2, the ladder 85 is shown used on an inclined or pitched roof F and in this use of the ladder, the surface engaging ele ments 7 are disposed lowermost. In order that the rungs or steps of the ladder D will be held in a horizontal plane on an inclined roof, the foot A carried by one leg 37 of the step portion 35, is adjusted. so that the surface engaging element extends below the lower end of the surface engaging element 7, carried by the foot A secured to the other leg 37 of the step section The foot A carried by the leg or standard 38 of the prop section 36, which is directly opposite to the mentioned leg of the step section 35 has the body 5 thereof adjusted, so that the lower end of the surface engaging member 7, will be disposed in the same plane as the lower end of the mentioned foot A carried by the leg of the step section 35. Adjustment of the bodies 5 of the mentioned feet A will permit the rungs or steps of the ladder to be effectively held in a horizontal plane and thereby facilitate the climbing of the ladder, it being understoood of course, that the bodies 5 of the mentioned feet A are adjusted to conform to the pitch or inolination of the roof F.

' When it is desired to change or reverse the position of the bodies 5 of the feet A,

it is merely necessary to remove the nuts 23 and the adjusting blocks 25, from off of the bolts and remove the bodies 5 from out of engagement with the legs of the ladder and the bolts 20, after which the bodies 5 may be reversed and then replaced in engagement with. the legs of the ladder and the locking blocks replaced on the bolts 20 and the nuts 23 rethreaded on the bolts so as to force the locking blocks in looking ferent characters gVhile the improved foot is shown in the drawings and described as applied to step ladders, it is to be understood that such is merely by way of example, since the improved foot may be readily applied to various types of ladders as will be obvious from the foregoing.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but, i

I claim:

1. The combination with a ladder including a leg, of an adjustable and reversible foot associated with the leg including a body, surface engaging members having different characteristics formed on the opposite ends of the body, the body having one face thereof provided with a longitudinally extending recess and a slot disposed intermediate the side edges of the recess, the inner face of the recess being provided with teethupon opposite sides of the slot, a reinforcing and bracing plate secured to one face-of the leg adjacent to the lower end thereof, bolts carried by the plate and extending through the leg of the ladder and through the slot in the body, locking blocks slidably mounted on the bolts including a plate, an inwardly extending wedge shaped lug formed on the last mentioned plate and arranged to extend in the'slot, and teeth disposed on the plate on opposite sides of the lug engaging the teeth formed on the inner wall of the recess, and adjustable nuts threaded on the bolts for engaging said locking blocks.

2. The combination with a ladder including a leg, of an adjustable and reversible foot for the ladder comprising a body, surface engaging members having difierent characteristics carried by the opposite ends of the body, the body having one face thereof provided with a longitudinally extending recessed portion, a longitudinal slot disposed intermediate the side walls of the recessed portion, inverted V shaped teeth formed on the bottom of the recessed portion on opposite sides of the slot, the

ridges of said teeth being disposed flush with one face of the body, a bolt carried by the leg of the ladder and extending through said slot, an adjustable plate slidably mounted upon the bolt having teeth formed thereon for engagement with the teeth formed on the inner wall of the recess, and a nut threaded on the bolt for engagement with said plate.

HUBER-T L. GLARY. 

